Patricia and Mark Laird, the owners of the Crank Works bicycle shop organized the second annual Hilly Hundred Bike Ride, which is not only a unique sporting venue, but a good cause as well.
The 100-mile bike ride, (which also has a 66-mile option) takes advantage of the area’s unique topographical features. Along the route, elevations range from around 30 feet in some parts to a max of nearly 300 feet at mile 57 (located at Clay Hill Road, East of I-75, just before it runs into Blanton Road). On the elevation map, you can see that there was definitely a plethora of hills for the riders to enjoy, especially towards the latter stages of the course.
The riders began pedaling in Brooksville, then headed north to skirt the southern edge of the Citrus Wildlife Management Area before heading back south towards Lake Lindsey, then east to Nobleton, Southwest into the heart of the Croom Wildlife Management Area. They jogged back west a bit then south to Hill and Dale and then Spring Lake. The course proceeded towards Dade City before the last leg of the trip back into Brooksville.
The Hilly Hundred was attended by more than 150 cycling enthusiasts this year. The event actually began three years ago but, last year, the Lairds identified a need in the community, and began collecting Christmas gifts for the Guardian Ad Litem program. A Guardian Ad Litem is a trained volunteer who advocates for the best interest of children who may have been abused, neglected or abandoned and are involved in court proceedings.
“This has turned into so much more than I thought it would be,” Patricia Laird said.
Like every new business, when Crank Works opened, they were contacted by several organizations seeking charitable partnerships and donations. The Lairds decided they would choose and focus on one organization. During a charity dinner, they met a representative from the Guardian Ad Litem program, and soon learned that within a five-county area, there are as many as 500 kids “in the (court) system” at a given time.
“A lot of these kids are taken from their homes, and a lot of the time, they’ve literally got nothing but the clothes on their backs,” she said.
Although the event centers around bikes, cyclists are encouraged to bring other types of gifts that kids would enjoy. Of course, there are also bikes.
“Throughout the year, we actually collect used bikes from customers who either don’t want them anymore, they’re upgrading … whatever the case may be, we fix them and donate them to the program,” she added.
Laird further commented that the pile of gift donations excluding bikes was much bigger than last year’s.
Crank Works Bicycles: http://www.crankworksbikes.com/ 352-593-4176
About the local Guardian Ad Litem Program: http://www.guardianadlitem5.org/